McMaster community raises money for Sichuan school

By Chris Martin, May 29, 2008

"It really is about establishing a bridge," says Gu Xu, a professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, of a new campaign to raise money to build a school in one of the communities affected by the Sichuan earthquake.

Project Hope is a joint fundraising effort by the McMaster Chinese Students and Scholars Association (CSSA) and the Association of Chinese Professors at McMaster University (ACPM) to help children resume their education through financing the construction of safe, earthquake-proof schools.

If the campaign is successful, the school built through donations by the McMaster community would bear the University's name. Xu says that "people in China would remember this act of kindness, and it would go a long way to connecting us with another part of the world. This makes the world a better place."

A school would cost about $75,000 to build, Xu says, and the project is hoping it can enlist as much help as possible to rebuild a shattered school system.

Contributions can be made via cheque, cash and e-mail money transfers. Cheques and cash can be dropped off at the MUSC atrium and the JHE lobby on weekdays from 1 to 2 p.m., MDCL 4010 during business hours, HSC Room 4H1 on weekdays from 12:30 to 2 p.m. and at St. Joseph Hospital's New Tower in the third floor hallway lunch area from 12:30 to 2 p.m. on weekdays. These stations will be open until the end of June.